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GTMC announces line-up for Overseas Conference

The GTMC has confirmed the speaker line-up for its Overseas Conference, with IAG chief Willie Walsh and Travelport executive vice president and CCO Stephen Shurrock set to take centre stage as keynote speakers.

This year’s conference, which will be held from 10-12 June at the Powerscourt Hotel Resort & Spa in Wicklow, Ireland, is themed around the headline ‘Mind the Gap’. Sessions will address post-Brexit hot topics, including the political landscape and the state of the economy, as well as the changing MICE market and other subjects.

Walsh will deliver a keynote speech followed by a live interview on the morning of 11 June.

Other speakers lined up for the event include William Hobbs, head of strategic investment at Barclays, who will talk about the state of the world economy; David Trunkfield, partner at PwC, who will discuss how travel businesses are faring; and Radio 4 broadcaster Steve Richards, who will analyse the ever-shifting political landscape in the UK and abroad.

Later on, Niall Tracey, director of marketing at Meet In Ireland, and Sara Price from Cavendish Communications, will join a panel with Hobbs, Trunkfield and Richards to examine how the world economy and increasing uncertainty of Brexit are likely to affect suppliers and the market.

The event is sponsored by Travelport, Barclaycard, British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia, Amadeus, Carey, Meet In Ireland and Conference and Incentive Travel, among others.

Adrian Parkes, CEO of the GTMC, commented: “The confusion over Brexit and the UK’s future border arrangements with the Republic are sure to feature in the thoughts of delegates as we bring our conference to Ireland.

“I am especially looking forward to discovering how Steve Richards views the situation. He has a long career in political journalism and as host of Week in Westminster on Radio 4 is very well connected to the biggest figures in the government. I’m sure we will get some fascinating insight from him.”

Buying Business Travel editor Matthew Parsons will be attending the event – follow us on Twitter @BBT_online to receive live reports from the conference.